Thanks to candid sources like HBO’s Sex and the City and a plethora of women’s magazines, owning a sex toy has become not only acceptable, but expected! So you want to join the pack and get your very own battery-operated friend, but you have no idea where to start? Read on for some essential tips to choosing the ideal plaything.

Where To Go?

First things first, where are you going to purchase your new toy? In every major city there are a wide variety of shops that sell adult material, ranging from the skanky back-alley porn shops, to progressive women-friendly sex shops. Try to find a store in your city that boasts knowledgeable staff, a clean and non-intimidating environment and competitive prices. Take a girlfriend along if you’re nervous about going by yourself.  The hardest part is getting through the door. Once you’re in, things get a lot more fun.

For those of you who can’t bear the idea of making this particular purchase in public, there are many reputable online sex toy stores that will ship you a discreet brown paper package so you can get your toy and keep your privacy.

What Type?

There are two main types of vibrators: clit toys (designed specifically for stimulation of the clitoris) and vibrators (designed for insertion). The first decision on your plate is which type to buy. 

Many women experience orgasm most consistently with clitoral stimulation so clit toys are very popular. They range from simple vibrating bullets to wearable apparatuses you can strap on and operate by remote. 

Vibrators have the most variety of style, shape and function. Though they all have the same basic form, they are generally divided between “realistic” looking and “non-realistic” based entirely on how much they resemble an actual penis. You can get vibes shaped like bananas, cucumbers and ears of corn, but these are usual novelty toys and of inferior quality. 

Perhaps the best invention in the history of sex toys is the famous “rabbit-style” vibe. On Sex and the City, the girls have to intervene when Charlotte becomes addicted to her rabbit and never wants to leave the house. The rabbit boasts both a shaft for penetration (which usually rotates in both directions) and an attached vibrating clit stimulator. The best ones also have beads in the shaft that press against each other when rotating, creating a very pleasurable sensation.

How About Material?

Sex toys are made out of 3 basic materials: hard plastic, jelly or silicone. 

Hard plastic vibes tend to be the least expensive as they are the easiest to produce. They also generally have the most power since none of the vibration is absorbed by a soft, squishy exterior. If you’ve never tried a sex toy before, plastic is a good place to start; they’re simple, strong and easy to keep clean.

If you prefer a softer, smoother surface, jelly vibes are a good choice. They come in many different shapes, colours and textures and feel more like “the real thing”. It is imperative that you diligently clean your jelly vibe since its surface is porous and capable of absorbing icky and dangerous bacteria.

There was a recent trend of super-realistic toys made with “skin-like” materials. However, due to their lifelike appearance, they tend to attract dirt and debris at an alarming rate. Many of them also require talc after washing to maintain the surface. You should never put talc inside you! For these reasons, you would do best to avoid anything labeled “Nature Skin” or “Cyber Skin”.

The best and safest material for sex toys is silicone. This miracle substance is used in cookware for its durability, versatility and ease of cleaning. It also creates toys that feel great to the touch. They are non-porous so you don’t have to worry as much about bacterial infections as you would with improperly cleaned jelly toys. Because silicone is relatively new on the market, you will pay more for it than your standard jelly, but the added safety and quality are well worth the money. 

How Much Should I Spend?

If you’re just starting out with toys, you should probably stay on the lower end of the price spectrum until you figure out what you like. You can get a simple hard plastic vibe or metal bullet for as little as $6.95. Jelly vibes are also fairly reasonably priced these days, ranging from $14.95 to over $100 for one with all the bells and whistles. You can find silicone toys for as little as $19.95, but the real quality ones will cost you upwards of $70 to over $150. When it comes to toys, it is generally true that the more you spend, the better quality you’ll get.

_________________________
try it out

Unless you’re ordering online, never buy a toy without getting the clerk to open it up for you and put batteries in it so you can try it out. The best way to tell if a vibe has the right power and speed for you in a public setting is to hold it up to the tip of your nose. If you can handle the pulsation on your nose, you’ll like it down there too.